Grinding tool for homogenizing machine valves



March 17, 1953 J. J. FLYNN 2,631,416

GRINDING TOOL FOR HOMOGENIZING MACHINE VALVES Filed June 22, 1 51 2/ X Z6 Fig-4.-

I N V EN TOR. (pa/7 J/ m.

BY W

' 47'7 zF/VEX Patented Mar. 17, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GRINDING (r FOR HOMOGENIZING -MACHIN-E VALVES Ll oli'n J .Flynn, Sharon, Pa.

-Applicati0n June '22, 1951, Serial N0. 233,069 5 Claims. (0155 1 241) This invention relates to a-valve grinding-tool "and more particularly toa valve grinding tool adapted for use with a homogenizing machine.

The principal object of the I invention is the provisionof a valve grindingtool forgrinding the valve-seats in a homogenizing machine.

A further object of the invention-is theprovision of a valve grinding tool enabling'a maintenance man to keep the several pump valvesin "a homogenizing machine ground to agood seat.

A still further object of theinvention is'the provision of a valve grinding tool incorporating means for grinding upper and lower pump valves in a homogenizing machine.

A still further object of'the invention-isthe :provision of a valve grinding tool incorporating means for vertically aligning a portion-of the tool to insure horizontal alignment-of another portion of the tool with-the valve seats to be :ground.

The valve .grinding tool for homogenizing machines disclosed herein comprises-a special tool designedfor a single .purpose, that of grinding the upper and-lower pump valve seats in a homogenizingmachine and-is soformed that the 'variousparts'of the valve grinding tool mayfbe assembled in the cylinder block of the homogenizing machine and used in the valve seat grinding operation'in such assembled position in the ma- 'chine.

The diary industryiagenerallyutilizes homogenizing machines through which the various -dai'ryproducts are passed to achieve control of "the viscosity of the product whether it be milk,

cream, ice cream or other dairyproducts, it being "known in the art that such dairyproducts can be broken up through a homogenizing process.

Ahomogenizing machine operates-by forcing the 'milk or other product under high pressure through a tiny openingthereby creatinga high velocity of the product which tends to break down the particles into minute form due to hydraulic shear. chines the product is first drivenbetween the valve and the seat and then shotwith tremendous In most homogenizing mavelocity againstan impact ring. Theprod-uctso treated resists any tendency to coalesce and any tendency toward clumping is-eliminated.

It is known in the dairy 'industry that'homog- 'enizing machines incorporate several suctionand discharge valves arranged in spaced vertical pairs each of which registers with a seat ground in the cylinder block of themachine. 'These valves'coinprise pump valves'by means a; whichmilk"is subjected to high "pressures deveiata byapiu- 2 rality of reciprocating plungers in the machine and the operation or themachine depends upon the proper seating of these pump valves.

h The present invention relates to a tool capable of being assembled in the cylinder block or "a homogenizing machine and operated to effectively grind the valve seats and'therefore makes possible-the efiicient operation of the homogenizing machine.

I With the foregoing and otherobjects inview which will appear "as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details'of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being the intention to cover all changes and modifications ofthe example ofthe' invention herein chosen for purposes of "the disclosure, which "do not constitutedepartures from the'spirit and scope of the invention.

{der block of a homogenizing machine showing in its left-hand portion the suction and discharge valves in operating position, in its middle portion (the valve grinding tool of Figure '2 assembled therein and-its right hand portion showing'the valve grinding tool ofFigure l assembled therein. Figure4 is a vertical section through the cylinder block of a homogenizing machine and atright angles to the disclosure of Figure 3 and illustrates the means of placement and assembling the valve grinding tool shown in the center portion of Figure 3.

Figure 5-isan end elevation takenon line 5-5 of-- Figure l.

By-referring to the drawingsan'd Figures 3and ;4 in particular it willbe seen that a cylinder blockl0-of a-homogenizing machine is disclosed which incorporates several verticallypositioned cylinders ll, each of'which communicates with --a-horizontally positioned cylinder 92' in which a plunger i3 is reciprocally positioned. Vertically spaced valve seats Wand I5 are'formed in the verticalcylinders'l I, the upper valveseats l4 lyingabovethe'horizontal cylinders l2 and the lower valve seats l5 lying below the horizontal cylin'ders l2. 'The'valve' seats ldand I5'normally position suction and discharge"valvesft and -|"'I,

" respectnn,"which mciuce tapered annii-lar surfaces registrable with the valve seats I4 and I5. Each of the discharge valves I1 is normally urged into registry with the seat I4 by a coil spring I8 which is opposed by an upper cylinder cap I9 which is secured to the cylinder block II} by means of fasteners 20. The suction valves I6 engage the seats I and reciprocate vertically in operation in passageways 2| which communicate with an intake manifold 22 by means of which the product to be homogenized is introduced into the machine. The manifold 22 is arranged for pressure contact with the cylinder block I8 and is readily removable therefrom to permit the cleaning of the machine after operation. It will thus be seen that the valve seats I4 and I5 normally receive the valves I5 and I1 and that they are subject to wear rendering the operation of the homogenizing machine unsatisfactory as the operating pressures in the machine depend upon the perfect seating of these valves.

In order to grind the valve seats I4 and I5, the special valve grinding tool disclosed in Figures 1, 2 and 5 has been devised and the same is shown in assembled position in the cylinder block I6 in the center section of Figure 3 with a valve grinding stone portion thereof engaged on the seat I5. A similar valve grinding tool is shown in the right hand portion of Figure 3 .of the drawings and assembled in the cylinder ferring to Figure 2 of the drawings it will be seen to comprise an elongated body member 23 having a relatively smaller end extension 24 by means of which it may be manipulated and a shoulder 25 formed inwardly from its opposite end with the remainder of the opposite end forming a secondary endwise extension 26 of smaller diameter than the elongated body member 23.

The portion of the secondary end extension 26 adjacent the shoulder 25 is threaded as at 27 and adapted to threadably receive and retain a grinding stone 28 having an internally threaded sleeve 29 formed integrally therewith. A flanged sleeve 38 is rotatably positioned on the outermost end of the secondary end extension 26 and a secondary flanged sleeve 3| is positioned on the elongated body member 23 adjacent the other end thereof.

In assembling the valve grinding tool disclosed in Figure 2 of the drawings in the cylinder block II), as disclosed in the center portion of Figure 3 of the drawings, it is necessary to remove the upper cylinder cap I9 and the manifold 22 from the cylinder block l8 and to also remove a front cylinder cap 32 which normally closes the outermost end of the horizontal cylinders I2 and as shown in dotted lines in Figure 4 of the drawings. Removal of the front cylinder cap 32 permits access to the area between the valve seats I4 and I5 and enables the suction valve I6 to be removed by way of the access thus provided. The removal of the upper cylinder cap I8 permits the spring I8 and the discharge valve I! to be removed upwardly and out of the cylinder block II].

By referring now to Figure 4 of the drawings 4 it will be seen that the grinding stone 28 is introduced into the position normally occupied by the suction valve I8 where it rests on the valve seat I 5 and the flanged sleeve 30 is positioned in the passageway 2| therebelow. The flanged sleeve 3| is positioned in the upper end of the cylinder II and the elongated body 23 is moved downwardly through the flanged sleeve 3| and the cylinder into engagement with the grinding stone 28 where it is rotated so as to threadably engage the grinding stone 28 and assume the position shown in the central portion of Figure 3 with the secondary endwise extension 26 engaged in the flanged sleeve 30 and the uppermost portion of the body member 23 engaged in the flanged sleeve 3|. The tool is then rotated by applying suitable rotating motion to the end extension 24, for example, by means of a chuck connected to a flexible shaft and to a suitable source of rotary motion whereupon the stone 28 will be revolved upon the seat I5 and the same reground.

It will be observed that in operating or grinding position the tool occupies the position illustrated in the center portion of Figure 3 of the drawings and upon the conclusion of the grinding operation the elongated body member 23 is revolved to rotatably disengage the stone 28 whereupon the body member 23 is lifted vertically out of the cylinder I4 and the grinding stone 28 removed through the open end of the horizontal cylinder I2. The grinding of the discharge valve seat l4 requires the use of a tool similar in all respects to that herein-before described with the exception that the same is arranged for the reception and retention of a larger valve stone and at a point on the tool capable of engaging the valve seats I4. Such a tool is shown in Figures 1 and 5 of the drawings and in position in the cylinder II in the right hand portion of Figure 3.

By referring now to the right hand portion of Figure 3 of the drawings it will be observed that the tool comprises a body member 33 having an elongated end extension 34 of relatively smaller diameter thereon and a secondary end extension 35 comprising a, relatively long section having a threaded area 36 adjacent its innermost end.

The extension 35 is of relatively smaller diameter than the body member 33 and a shoulder 37- is formed therebetween. A secondary grinding stone 38 is provided with an internally threaded metallic sleeve 39 which is threadably engaged on the threads 38 and a flanged sleeve 40 is rotatably positioned on one end of the secondary extension 35 while a flanged sleeve 4| is positioned on the other end of the body 33.

It will be observed that the tool shown in Figure 1 is an almost exact counterpart of the tool shown in Figure 2 with the exception of the relative lengths of the body members 23 and 33 and 26 and 35. It will also be observed that the stone 28 on the tool shown in Figure 2 of the drawings is of slightly smaller diameter than the stone 38 shown on the tool in Figure 1 of the drawings. This is in accordance with the relative difierence in sizes of diameter of the valve seats I 4 and I 5 in the cylinder block I as heretofore described.

It will thus be seen that a simple and eflicient valve grinding tool has been disclosed which may be readily assembled in the cylinder block of a homogenizing machine so that a fixed vertical axis is obtained with respect to each pair of spaced horizontally disposed valve seats therein and a grinding wheel is located on a fixed horizontal plane for perfect engagement with the horizontal valve seats. The tool disclosed herein will therefore be seen to meet the several objects of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

l. A valve grinding tool for a homogenizing machine having cylinders therein including vertically spaced valve seats intermediate the ends thereof, the valve grinding tool comprising a pair of oppositely disposed flanged sleeves engageable in the opposite ends of said cylinders, an elongated body member positioned axially of said sleeves, a grinding stone detachably secured to said body member intermediate said sleeves and in registry with. one of said valve seats.

2. A valve grinding tool for a homogenizing machine having cylinders therein including vertically spaced valve seats intermediate the ends thereof, the valve grinding tool comprising a pair of oppositely disposed flanged sleeves engageable in the opposite ends of said cylinders, an elongated body member positioned axially of said sleeves, one end of said elongated body member being of a smaller diameter than the other and forming a shoulder separating the two portions, a grinding stone positioned on the portion of smaller diameter and abutting said shoulder and intermediate said sleeves and in registry with one of said valve seats.

3. A valve grinding tool for a homogenizing machine having cylinders therein including vertically spaced valve seats intermediate the. ends thereof, the valve grinding tool comprising a pair of oppositely disposed flanged sleeves engageable in the opposite ends of said cylinders, an elongated body member positioned axially of said sleeves and movable axially thereof and rotatable with respect thereto, an end portion of said body member being cross sectionally round and of a smaller diameter than the remainder of the body member so as to form a shoulder thereon, a fastening formation on said end portion of smaller diameter adjacent said shoulder and a centrally apertured grinding stone having fastening formations registrable with said fastening formations on said body member and positioned intermediate said sleeves and in registry with one of said valve seats.

4. A valve grinding tool for a homogenizing machine having a vertically positioned cylinder therein open at its opposite ends and having an access opening in one side and a pair of valve seats formed in the walls of said cylinder one above and one below said access opening, said valve grinding tool comprising flanged sleeves positioned one in the upper and one in the lower end of said cylinder, a grinding stone having a central threaded aperture therein of a size registrable with said lower valve seat and insertable thereon through said access opening, an elongated body member having a thread pattern thereon inwardly from one end thereof and positioned through said sleeves and apertured grinding wheel with the thread pattern of said grinding wheel engaging the thread pattern of the elongated body member and whereby the elongated body member is held on the central vertical axis of said cylinder and the grinding stone disposed on the horizontal plane of the valve seat.

5. The structure set forth in claim 4 and further characterized by the elongated body memher having an endwise extension on the end thereof opposite the area of smaller diameter thereof and forming means for rotating said elongated body member.

JOHN J. FLYNN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,747,085 Roy Feb. 11, 1930 1,760,493 Hall May 27, 1930 1,775,898 Fleming Sept. 16, 1930 1,820,368 Whitmill Aug. 25, 1931 2,431,369 Chiles Nov. 25, 1947 

